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When NZIFF took the plunge and hired me to programme animated shorts in 1997, the job seemed massive: the number entered that year was 600. All arrived in the mail on VHS tapes. To get to this year’s programme, a grand total of 3,535 shorts had to be sifted, weighed and catalogued – and fewer than 100 arrived in a physical format. That speaks volumes for what is happening in the world of creative animation. There is a diversity, complexity and an intriguing, ingenious artfulness to so much animation that never makes it into the cinemas. As always, the overarching mission is to cut to the essence of what auteur animators are creating and showcase it here in one glorious big-screen hit. It’s a special pleasure to open this year’s programme with a stunning film that has many of its roots in New Zealand. — Malcolm Turner